rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryindigestionDigestive discomfort
noun

indigestion

in-di-JES-chun/ˌɪndɪˈdʒestʃən/

Discomfort caused by difficulty digesting food.

He experiences indigestion after the rich meal.

An older man pauses over a partly eaten rich meal, pressing his upper abdomen with a strained grimace and loosening his waistband to relieve uncomfortable fullness.
Etymology
inLatinnot
+diLatinapart
+gestLatinto carry
+ionLatinaction or process

Carrying apart developed into separating or arranging, and digestion applied that idea to processing food for absorption. The negative prefix marks difficulty or failure in that process, giving the name for the resulting discomfort.

In context

Dr. Alex Heyne - Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine3:20
… clear signs of this are typically traditional reflux burning strong painful indigestion …
4 Organs That Are Common Causes of Acid Reflux

More examples

  • She described frequent indigestion.
  • The meal left him with indigestion.
  • The clinician discussed his indigestion.

Forms

indigestion

Similar words

dyspepsia
A clinical term for indigestion.
heartburn
A particular burning symptom rather than all indigestion.